This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65182264
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Donald Trump pleads not guilty to 34 felony counts in hush money case | Donald Trump pleads not guilty to 34 felony counts in hush money case |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Mr Trump is the first former US president to be criminally charged | Mr Trump is the first former US president to be criminally charged |
| Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to falsifying business records to hide damaging information ahead of the 2016 election. | Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to falsifying business records to hide damaging information ahead of the 2016 election. |
| The former president was charged with 34 felony counts in a Manhattan court on Tuesday. | The former president was charged with 34 felony counts in a Manhattan court on Tuesday. |
| The charges stem from a hush money payment to a porn star, Stormy Daniels, who says they had an adulterous affair. | The charges stem from a hush money payment to a porn star, Stormy Daniels, who says they had an adulterous affair. |
| Mr Trump, 76, denies criminal wrongdoing. | Mr Trump, 76, denies criminal wrongdoing. |
| He is the first US president in history to face a criminal trial. | He is the first US president in history to face a criminal trial. |
| The charges stem from a hush money payment to a porn star, Stormy Daniels, who says they had an adulterous affair. | |
| Paying hush money is not illegal. But the prosecution says Mr Trump falsified business records and broke election laws as he tried to cover up the payments. | Paying hush money is not illegal. But the prosecution says Mr Trump falsified business records and broke election laws as he tried to cover up the payments. |
| Each of the charges carries a maximum of four years in prison, though a judge could sentence Mr Trump to probation if he is convicted. | Each of the charges carries a maximum of four years in prison, though a judge could sentence Mr Trump to probation if he is convicted. |
| The former president sat stony-faced and silent for the nearly hour-long proceedings before Judge Juan Merchan, speaking out loud only in response to the judge's questions and to enter his not-guilty plea. | The former president sat stony-faced and silent for the nearly hour-long proceedings before Judge Juan Merchan, speaking out loud only in response to the judge's questions and to enter his not-guilty plea. |
| Watch: Trump's historic journey in 60 seconds | |
| Watch: Trump's historic journey in 60 seconds | |
| While making their arguments, prosecutors told the judge Mr Trump had made threatening posts on social media. | |
| Lawyers for Mr Trump responded that their client was frustrated by the case, which he believed to be a "great injustice". | |
| Mr Trump's trial could begin as early as January 2024, Judge Merchan said, meaning the Republican - who is running for the US presidency again in 2024 - may be back in court just as primaries begin to select the party's nominee. | Mr Trump's trial could begin as early as January 2024, Judge Merchan said, meaning the Republican - who is running for the US presidency again in 2024 - may be back in court just as primaries begin to select the party's nominee. |
| Mr Trump said nothing to reporters as he left court. | Mr Trump said nothing to reporters as he left court. |
| He returned immediately to his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago, on Tuesday evening, where he delivered brief remarks in the ballroom of the Palm Beach resort. | |
| "The only crime I have committed is to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it," he told the crowd. | |
| The case hinges on a hush money payment of $130,000 (£104,000) made before the 2016 presidential election. | |
| Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said this was arranged by Mr Trump to buy porn star Stormy Daniels' silence about an alleged affair back in 2006. | |
| Mr Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen - who turned against his former boss - has said he made the payment at Mr Trump's direction. | |
| Prosecutors also pointed to other payments they say Mr Trump made through an intermediary, one of $30,000 to buy the silence of a doorman at Trump Tower who alleged Mr Trump had a secret child, and another of $150,000, reportedly made to pay off Karen McDougal, who alleges she had a sexual relationship with Mr Trump. | Prosecutors also pointed to other payments they say Mr Trump made through an intermediary, one of $30,000 to buy the silence of a doorman at Trump Tower who alleged Mr Trump had a secret child, and another of $150,000, reportedly made to pay off Karen McDougal, who alleges she had a sexual relationship with Mr Trump. |
| The first payment, to the former doorman, was made by US tabloid the National Enquirer to suppress the story. The magazine later determined the story was untrue, but prosecutors say the outlet was instructed by Cohen not to release the doorman from the gag order until after the 2016 election. | The first payment, to the former doorman, was made by US tabloid the National Enquirer to suppress the story. The magazine later determined the story was untrue, but prosecutors say the outlet was instructed by Cohen not to release the doorman from the gag order until after the 2016 election. |
| The second is believed to be to Ms McDougal, a former Playboy magazine Playmate of the Year. It was also made by the National Enquirer - a long-time ally of Mr Trump - as part of an alleged "catch and kill" scheme, where an outlet buys the rights to a story but withholds publication - preventing publication by other outlets. | The second is believed to be to Ms McDougal, a former Playboy magazine Playmate of the Year. It was also made by the National Enquirer - a long-time ally of Mr Trump - as part of an alleged "catch and kill" scheme, where an outlet buys the rights to a story but withholds publication - preventing publication by other outlets. |
| According to prosecutors, the National Enquirer admitted to paying a source of a story to ensure that person "did not publicise damaging allegations" about Mr Trump before the 2016 election. Mr Trump and Mr Cohen agreed to this scheme, prosecutor Alvin Bragg said. | According to prosecutors, the National Enquirer admitted to paying a source of a story to ensure that person "did not publicise damaging allegations" about Mr Trump before the 2016 election. Mr Trump and Mr Cohen agreed to this scheme, prosecutor Alvin Bragg said. |
| In pictures: Donald Trump is arrested | In pictures: Donald Trump is arrested |
| What Trump indictment means - a simple guide | What Trump indictment means - a simple guide |
| Americast: Trump indicted | Americast: Trump indicted |
| "Everyone stands equal under the law," Mr Bragg said after the arraignment. "No matter who you are, we will not normalise serious criminal conduct." | "Everyone stands equal under the law," Mr Bragg said after the arraignment. "No matter who you are, we will not normalise serious criminal conduct." |
| The odds of a conviction are so far unclear but the charges against Mr Trump have pulled the country into uncharted political territory. | The odds of a conviction are so far unclear but the charges against Mr Trump have pulled the country into uncharted political territory. |
| While a criminal conviction would not prevent Mr Trump from either running for president or from re-claiming the Oval Office, the prolonged legal fight could prove a major distraction for the Republican front-runner, and may add a new layer of turmoil to his party's primary. | While a criminal conviction would not prevent Mr Trump from either running for president or from re-claiming the Oval Office, the prolonged legal fight could prove a major distraction for the Republican front-runner, and may add a new layer of turmoil to his party's primary. |
| Hundreds of Mr Trump's supporters congregated at a park across from the court on Tuesday morning. They were joined by congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a right-wing Republican from Georgia who derided the Democratic party as "communists" and "failures". | Hundreds of Mr Trump's supporters congregated at a park across from the court on Tuesday morning. They were joined by congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a right-wing Republican from Georgia who derided the Democratic party as "communists" and "failures". |
| "Every single American should be concerned," Ms Greene said of Mr Trump's indictment. Ms Greene, 48, has repeatedly promoted the false claim that Mr Trump won the 2020 presidential election. | "Every single American should be concerned," Ms Greene said of Mr Trump's indictment. Ms Greene, 48, has repeatedly promoted the false claim that Mr Trump won the 2020 presidential election. |
| Counter-protesters shouted and jeered, at times drowning her speech out entirely. | Counter-protesters shouted and jeered, at times drowning her speech out entirely. |
| "Go back to Georgia!" one woman said. | "Go back to Georgia!" one woman said. |
| Mr Trump is the focus of three other investigations, related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, and over his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House. | Mr Trump is the focus of three other investigations, related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, and over his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House. |
| With additional reporting from Kayla Epstein in New York | With additional reporting from Kayla Epstein in New York |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| New York City | New York City |
| Indictment of Donald Trump | Indictment of Donald Trump |
| Donald Trump | Donald Trump |
| United States | United States |